Particularly DHer's... anyone out there riding without insurance? Isn't that a bad idea?
So who out there is riding without health insurance?
- Thread starter MMike
- Start date
Yes. Very bad idea. Especially with catastrophic plans being so reasonable to buy..............
I have really good insurance through my work. Emergency rooms visits and overnight luxury hospital accomodations cost me nothing. It's probably the only reason I haven't left my job. However, I did ride for a few months w/o insurance and that was scary to say the least.
I got in a motorcycle accident a long time ago and didn't have health insurance. Learned my lesson the hard way 
Toshi said:
Although, I would recommend insurance regardless of what you're riding!
I'm one of the lucky ones that have insurance. Even at that I still had to pay out a good amount when I broke my collarbone and had surgery. I know way too many people that don't have insurance and DH and have gotten hurt.
I was so insured I made money when I broke my wrist. The missus was so impressed, next time she wants me to die.
Insurance is deffinetly a good idea. Just recently I was hurt riding my bmx bike at the skatepark and ended up with a nice 5 day vacation in the hospital, with a nice surgery to top it off. I just got the total from my insurance company. When it was all said and done it cost $33,802. That was shock enough to make never want to go without health insurance.
[asshole point of view] So do you feel sorry for someone who gets hurt when they don't have insurance?[/asshole point of view]
I rode all last year w/o health insurance, which wasn't too great. I never wanted to take any risks. Now that I have it back with a new job[6 months ago] I've been riding alot faster. You could say I have health insurance inspired courage.
MMike said:
You mean like Lars Sternberg?... Glad he isn't all crippled up but I do not feel the least bit sorry that he is going to have substantial medical bills because he does not have insurance...
Ah.... thank you...PonySoldier said:
I mean people are free to donate money to whatever cause they like.... but I just can't see it..... It's not like insurance is unattainable...
i rode for a long time without it. now i have a job that does not provide insurance and i buy it out of pocket now. my arm would have costed me right at 26,000.00 dollars after all was said and done. due to insurance i paid about 1300.00.
i rode for about 3 years without insurance. urban, DJ, DH, freeride..........
i rode for about 3 years without insurance. urban, DJ, DH, freeride..........
Yes and No. I feel sorry for anyone that gets hurt riding. Having to sell you bike to pay for it sucks even worse. BUT, if you don't have insurance you shouldn't be riding DH. It seems like DH is one of those sports where it's not o question of IF you'll get hurt, it's a matter of WHEN you'll get hurt. It seems like most of us who DH have broken something. Not that XC isn't dangerous. All mountain biking is inherently dangerous I think but in DH you are going faster over more extreme terrain and probably taking larger risks on the trail.MMike said:
Yes. But you've demonstrated before that you're not too bright.biggins said:
I have been without health insurance since 18, now 23. I haven't gotten hurt or anything but then again I'm pretty slow on the trails. I don't try anything stupid nor see if I can really go faster. I just ride to ride, not to impress anyone besides myself 
But I agree with the above, health insurance is needed and most jobs of some sort will assist you depending on profession on getting some. Weather it's good or not is to be questioned but atleast it's something. I didn't have health insurance at my old work (4 years working there) because the owner was too cheap to purchase or assist with health insurance for any of his employee's but would make a deal of getting it for himself having the sales people come in and such), and since I've been out of work for a while now that is a big plur to get when I go back to a new job. I'd take the little less pay but have decent benifits in health insurance.
Even at $50-80 a month for the basic whatever from a company ain't bad, but not working & spending another $80 a month is the last thing I want to do.
But I agree with the above, health insurance is needed and most jobs of some sort will assist you depending on profession on getting some. Weather it's good or not is to be questioned but atleast it's something. I didn't have health insurance at my old work (4 years working there) because the owner was too cheap to purchase or assist with health insurance for any of his employee's but would make a deal of getting it for himself having the sales people come in and such), and since I've been out of work for a while now that is a big plur to get when I go back to a new job. I'd take the little less pay but have decent benifits in health insurance.
Even at $50-80 a month for the basic whatever from a company ain't bad, but not working & spending another $80 a month is the last thing I want to do.
But getting stuck with at $15k+ medical bill is even worse. You don't have to be riding fast to get hurt, in fact, you don't even have to be riding. You could just be walking down the stairs and fall. In other words, you may think you are saving money but if something happens you will be paying a lot more for the rest of your life.Spunger said:
Dude. Get a catastrophic/major medical plan. Assuming you don't smoke or have existing conditions, I'll bet you can find one for less than $50/month.Spunger said:
Get one.
This last winter I was in a not very serious car accident but had to go to the ER for x-rays anyways. The ambulance ride alone was $500.
I dont have Health insurance, but I live in New Zealand, so I dont need it, Yay more money for bike bling! 
We have a whole system which takes care of you when you've been an idiot and munted yourself, and yes I have availed my self of it services in the past, twice for DH related muntage(1 full body pummeling including a bruised kidney, 1 shoulder barging a large rock!), and once when my back fell to bits.
We have a whole system which takes care of you when you've been an idiot and munted yourself, and yes I have availed my self of it services in the past, twice for DH related muntage(1 full body pummeling including a bruised kidney, 1 shoulder barging a large rock!), and once when my back fell to bits.
Nope....I'm sure that sounds cold but honestly if you can fork out the money for a bike and all the goodies that go with it, spend a little money on your bodyMMike said:
I mean how cool is to not have health insurance? 
VA........ they'll keep me alive if need be. no bedside manor but.....
I have medical coverage both short term and perm. disability.....I leave nothing to chance..I have kids and they will must be taken care of.....D
that just sounds TOO good to be true...i just can't believe it was THAT cheapCiaran said:
"You lie (lay?) in the bed you make".MMike said:
When K broke her femur the total bill ended up at ~$80,000.
I was briefly without insurance about 5 years ago and my parents freaked. They said if I hurt myself they would sell the house if need be. So I stopped riding for awhile- I think it only ended up being a couple of weeks. Riding w/out insurance felt like riding DH w/out pads.
I had 2 Sinus surgeries, one in 1998 and another to finish the job in 2001...billed cost of the 2 was ~$38000.00 my out of pocket expenses were less than $100...ridetoofast said:
Some of my benefits are wierd. I have an HMO. They wouldn't pay anything towards a non-perscription knee brace but I had somehting like a $1,200 no deductable line on a perscription brace. I don't remember any out-of-pocket for the surgery. Maybe like $20 for a visit, and my insurance also had no deductable PT for like 90 days after surgery. I really don't get it.ridetoofast said:
Percy said:I dont have Health insurance, but I live in New Zealand, so I dont need it, Yay more money for bike bling!
We have a whole system which takes care of you when you've been an idiot and munted yourself, and yes I have availed my self of it services in the past, twice for DH related muntage(1 full body pummeling including a bruised kidney, 1 shoulder barging a large rock!), and once when my back fell to bits.
When I liven in the States I had health insurance, and only had to use it once, for a MTB / tree-caused impact wound to the shin. I got treated at Stanford Medical Center, and the treatment was superb, if a little over the top. I had like 6 machines beeping and whiring away, keeping me from dying.
I got like 50 painkiller injections around the site of the 3" x 2" injury, and it healed up real good after they spend about an hour cleaning and disinfecting the wound. In the UK it would have been an antiseptic wipe and a couple of stiches. No idea how much it cost, but I'm sure it was a few $$.
Get health insurance!!! At my work we just got changed from really good in surance to so so .
But still
look at it from this point of view. suppose you come down with something -- Like Lyme Disease! I'm Still getting the Bills and statements so far up to $13k and so far I owe about $1k of it. do you know how much MRI's cost ? the 3 on my Skull were $1000 each!!! , Me pay nothing for them
and after all this , I have decided I don't have enough Life insuracne. so I will be upping that for the wife and Kids sake.
But still
look at it from this point of view. suppose you come down with something -- Like Lyme Disease! I'm Still getting the Bills and statements so far up to $13k and so far I owe about $1k of it. do you know how much MRI's cost ? the 3 on my Skull were $1000 each!!! , Me pay nothing for them
and after all this , I have decided I don't have enough Life insuracne. so I will be upping that for the wife and Kids sake.
I was health insuranceless from mid july to this past friday, now am covered again. Get it, it helps a ton.
I had pretty good insurance when I was hit by a car on the road. So far I'm out about $500. The bills have been thousands, and could be thousands more, since I'm having to go in for a neuro workup. And yes I was wearing a helmet.
Riding without insurance is never a good call...
Speaking of insurance...How do these motocross guys that break bones weekly get insured? Are they sponsored by insurance companies or something...Who in their right mind would insure them...
Speaking of insurance...How do these motocross guys that break bones weekly get insured? Are they sponsored by insurance companies or something...Who in their right mind would insure them...
Zack said:Riding without insurance is never a good call...
Speaking of insurance...How do these motocross guys that break bones weekly get insured? Are they sponsored by insurance companies or something...Who in their right mind would insure them...
The insurance companies have kicked it around and in some states have tried to get legislation passed that would allow them to deny coverage to high risk people like DHers, rock climbers, etc. So far I am unaware of any state that has passed any laws allowing it. I carry the high deductable on my wife so when she broke her arm-mountain biking I paid the whole $1500. In one of our follow up visits I saw a rodeo rider with a busted arm-now there's another high risk group. The fact that I will have to pay everything to $6000 or so doesnt really bother me because after that she is covered all the way to $2 million.
Anybody know about the Colorado outdoor insurance? I was talking to a friend who works for Vail and he told be about it after hearing about how my gf was helicoptered. I guess that its cheap but only covers outdoor accidents like getting lost and/or hurt in the wilderness. Also, I think that it may only cover the search-and-rescue part of it, not the hospital/er bills.
That one I think is for the rescue part. Those helicopters are more expensive than you think. I crashed in the sticks and had to fly 100 miles or so. I do remember thinking who is paying for this before I passed out, I also thought I hope they dont crash, but then it doesnt matter anyway cause I am almost dead. Anyway the bill was almost $11,000. My wife pre-authorized it with the insurance company. She told me if it happens again she will have the helicopter drop my body somewhere over the high cascades.
K's bill helicopter bill was $8,300. Even as they were pumping her full of morphine they were asking her about billing informationBorregokid said:
So what's more important (if you can only pick one), Health insurance or car insurance?